A new lawsuit from 14 state attorneys general goes after TikTok for those “challenge” videos that have killed teens nationwide, and even alleges an economy of underage nude videos that have created a "virtual strip club" on the platform.
Government officials have long claimed that the short-form video social media app TikTok is intentionally harmful to kids and teens, and is engineered to get kids hooked on it, while encouraging them to do dangerous things. And there is an obvious profit motive for TikTok to do whatever they need to do to remain the go-to app for youngsters. But CBS News reports that 14 states just sued TikTok for harming young people’s health, pointing out the obvious threat of those highly unsafe “TikTok challenges,” and even alleges that the platform allows nude teen video-sharing that renders the platform a "virtual strip club."
We’re suing the social media giant TikTok for exploiting young users and deceiving the public about the dangers the platform poses to our youth.
— Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) October 8, 2024
Together, with my fellow state AGs, we will hold TikTok to account, stop its exploitation of our young people, and end its deceit. pic.twitter.com/j11NAUPz1h
And yes, California is one of those 14 states suing TikTok.
“Our investigation has revealed that TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits,” state Attorney General Bob Bonta said in a Tuesday announcement. “TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content.”
That’s actually a pretty soft statement given the seriousness of some of these allegations.
A lawsuit over 10-year-old girl's 'blackout challenge' death is moving forward against TikTok in the U.S. Attorney says, “Big Tech just lost its ‘get-out-of-jail-free card.’”#parents #ScreenSmart #StayScreenSmart #BigTech #Accountable #MentalHealth #technology #MindAwake pic.twitter.com/Je0Rw3SpGd
— icmediacenter (@ICMediaCenter) October 7, 2024
You’ve probably heard of these very dangerous “TikTok Challenges” that prompt kids to pull sometimes life-threatening stunts. Early this year, two Bay Area teens died while riding the top of BART trains, while making these very “challenge” videos. Five kids in New York died last year over the same “challenge.” At the time, BART board president Bevan Dufty told NBC Bay Area that “There needs to be some engagement with social media companies.”
5️⃣ TikTok profits from the sexual exploitation of children — operating like a virtual strip club.
— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) October 8, 2024
TikTok touts its safety policies, but it allows teens to be exploited for sexually explicit content with its LIVE and Coins features.
It then pockets up to 50% of each transaction.
And we were not aware that teens can buy a digital currency called TikTok Coins to pay livestreamers. As seen above, Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb says that users are using these coins to pay for livestream stripteases, sometimes filmed by minors. “TikTok profits from the sexual exploitation of children — operating like a virtual strip club,” Schwalb says.
Unsurprisingly, TikTok responds that their platform is very safe for minors.
“We provide robust safeguards, proactively remove suspected underage users, and have voluntarily launched safety features such as default screentime limits, family pairing, and privacy by default for minors under 16," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News. "We've endeavored to work with the Attorneys General for over two years, and it is incredibly disappointing they have taken this step rather than work with us on constructive solutions to industrywide challenges."
The 14 state attorneys general are suing in hopes of eliminating certain TikTok features, winning penalties for alleged violations, and forcing restitution for harmed families.
Image: @AGRobBonta via Twitter
